Each of Us Has Only a Quantum of Compassion

'I have a theory which I suspect is rather immoral,' Smiley went on, more lightly. 'Each of us has only a quantum of compassion. That if we lavish our concern on every stray cat, we never get to the centre of things. What do you think of it?'

This quote. "Each of us has only a quantum of compassion." It's the kind of thing you'd expect to be The Thing You Get Out Of A Book. It seems important. It's the kind of thing you'd read on a goodreads quote page, or in a quote of the day calendar. A philosophical statement, memorably phrased.

Except.. the thing is I always found it to be a bit of a non-sequitur. I could never figure out why it was there, why Smiley says it.

( I Struggle With This Fruitlessly Under The Cut )